A few pitching notes and Bowie's championship celebration

So who was the last Orioles pitcher before Chris Tillman to make the start on opening day? It was Jason Hammel, who got the starting assignment in 2013.

It was announced Monday that Tillman will make his third straight opening day start on Monday afternoon at home against the Minnesota Twins.

Tillman is 1-0 with an ERA of 1.54 on opening day the past two years. In 2014 he gave up one run over five innings as the Orioles beat Jon Lester and Boston 2-1. Last year he gave up one run over 6 2/3 as the Orioles beat Chris Archer and Tampa Bay 6-2. Not bad, pitching his team to wins over Lester and Archer.

The last O's hurler to make three consecutive opening day starts was Mike Mussina from 1998-2000. Jim Palmer and Mussina hold the O's record for pitchers with six opening day starts. Dave McNally made five.

The Orioles went 0-7 against the Twins last year and were outscored 43-18 in the season series. They posted a 5.74 ERA against the Twins in 2015. Tillman went 0-1 with an ERA of 4.05 in one start last year against Minnesota. In his career he is 0-4 with a 4.82 ERA in six career starts versus the Twins.

* So how will the Orioles pitching staff look on opening day? Tillman, Yovani Gallardo and Ubaldo Jimenez are lined up to start the first three games. Then what? Does Miguel Gonzalez start fourth followed by Kevin Gausman, if he can return in time to make his first turn? Where does that leave Mike Wright and/or Tyler Wilson?

If the O's begin the year with at least one other lefty in the bullpen beyond closer Zach Britton, is that Zach Phillips? Or perhaps T.J. McFarland to have a long man? Darren O'Day, Brad Brach, Dylan Bundy and Mychal Givens seem very likely to head north. But Givens could be optioned, allowing the Orioles to carry another pitcher, whether that be Chaz Roe, Oliver Drake, Vance Worley, Wilson or Wright.

Due to injuries, ineffectiveness, and some pitchers with options and some without, this might be the most uncertain/unsettled the last few pitching staff spots has been in several years. A lot of ways the Orioles could go.

* The Orioles' Double-A Bowie Baysox affiliate is planning two nights to celebrate its 2015 Eastern League championship when the season begins.

The Baysox's 2016 home opener at Prince George's Stadium is Thursday April 7, against Akron at 6:35 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as the team will kick off the celebration with a special giveaway and pregame ceremonies.

The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative championship banner featuring the Baysox Eastern League championship logo and a list of players and coaches from the championship team. The Eastern League championship trophy will also be on display during the game along with other exciting championship events.

The 2015 championship celebration continues during the Baysox's second home game Friday, April 8 at 7:05 p.m. with a championship photo giveaway to the first 1,000 fans. There will also be a pregame autograph session with select players from the championship team. The photo depicts the 2015 Baysox on the field with the championship trophy and banner following their Game 5 win at Prince George's Stadium over the Reading Fightin Phils last September.

FanGraphs.com says: The publication has ranked and projected how each club's starting rotation will perform this year and lists the Orioles at No. 28 in the majors. The New York Mets are No.1, followed by the Dodgers and Cubs. Among American League East teams, New York ranks highest at No. 10, with Boston No. 11, Tampa Bay No. 15 and Toronto at No. 25.

Click here to see the top 15 teams in their projection and click here to see the bottom 15.

FanGraphs projects that Gausman will have an ERA of 4.01 this year, with Jimenez at 4.27, Tillman at 4.36, Gallardo at 4.39 and Gonzalez at 4.64.